PIEZOELECTRIC POLYMER COMPOSITE ARTICLE AND SYSTEM

• US 20070205701A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Grumm, Kipp
• Granted Patent: US 7,443,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/311
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 electrical or electronic
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/302 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/878 the principal material being non-metallic, e.g. oxide or carbon based
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

The subject invention provides composite articles (20, 120) and associated systems (32, 132). A first composite article (20) includes a piezoelectric layer (22) having a piezoelectric property. The piezoelectric layer (22) is sandwiched between a first conductive layer (28) and a second conductive layer (30). At least one of the conductive layers (28, 30) is a conductive polymer having an electrically conductive property. A second composite article (120) includes first and second piezoelectric layers (122, 124) having a piezoelectric property. The first and second piezoelectric layers sandwich an insulating layer (126). A first system (32) and a second system (132) each include a control device (34) electrically connected to the first composite article (20) or the second composite article (120), respectively. The control device (34) measures an electrical signal generated by the respective piezoelectric layers (22, 122, 124) and/or produces an electrical signal to actuate the respective piezoelectric layers (22, 122, 124).

Claims

1. A composite article (20) comprising;

a piezoelectric layer (22) having a piezoelectric property and defining a first side (24) and a second side (26),

a first conductive layer (28) disposed in contact with said first side (24) of said piezoelectric layer (22), and

said first conductive layer (28) comprising a first conductive polymer having an electrically conductive property.

2. A composite article (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said piezoelectric layer (22) comprises a polymer having a piezoelectric property.

3. A composite article (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said piezoelectric layer (22) comprises polyvinylidine difluoride (PVDF).

4. A composite article (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first conductive layer (28) comprises carbon nanotubes.

5. A composite article (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first conductive layer (28) comprises nylon.

6. A composite article (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first conductive layer (28) comprises a plurality of conductive sections (46) electrically insulated from each other.

7. A composite article (20) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second conductive layer (30) disposed in contact with said second side (26) of said piezoelectric layer (22) and comprising a second conductive polymer having an electrically conductive property.

8. A composite article (20) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second conductive layer (30) disposed in contact with said second side (26) of said piezoelectric layer (22) and comprising a metal.

9. A composite article (20) as set forth in claim 1 in combination with a head (52) of a golf club (54) for sensing a point of impact of a golf ball on said head (52).

10. A composite article (20) as set forth in claim 1 in combination with a bed (56) for monitoring breathing of an individual.

11. A system (32) comprising;

a piezoelectric layer (22) having a piezoelectric property and defining a first side (24) and a second side (26),

a first conductive layer (28) disposed in contact with said first side (24) of said piezoelectric layer (22) and comprising a first conductive polymer having an electrically conductive property,

a second conductive layer (30) disposed in contact with said second side (26) of said piezoelectric layer (22) and having an electrically conductive property, and

a control device (34) electrically connected to said first conductive layer (28) and said second conductive layer (30).

12. A system (32) as set forth in claim 11 wherein said control device (34) is further defined as a meter (42) for receiving an electrical signal produced by said piezoelectric layer (22).

13. A system (32) as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first conductive layer (28) defines a periphery having at least three edges (48).

14. A system (32) as set forth in claim 13 wherein said meter (42) is further defined as at least three meters (42) electrically connected to said first conductive layer (28) at separate locations along said periphery.

15. A system (32) as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a processor (50) electrically connected to said at least three meters (42) for determining a compression point on said piezoelectric layers (22) based on the locations of the electrical connections along said periphery of said first conductive layer (28) and each electrical signal measured at each of said at least three meters (42).

16. A system (32) as set forth in claim 11 wherein said control device (34) is further defined as a power supply (44) electrically connected to said first conductive layer (28) and said second conductive layer (30) for applying an electrical signal to said conductive layers (28, 30) for actuating said piezoelectric layer (22).

17. A system (32) as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second conductive layer (30) comprises a second conductive polymer having an electrically conductive property.

18. A composite article (120) comprising;

a first piezoelectric layer (122) having a piezoelectric property and comprising electrically conductive material,

a second piezoelectric layer (124) having a piezoelectric property and comprising electrically conductive material, and

an insulating layer (126) sandwiched between said first and second piezoelectric layers (122, 124).

19. A composite article (120) as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first and second piezoelectric layers (122, 124) comprise polymers having a piezoelectric property.

20. A composite article (120) as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first piezoelectric layer (122) comprises polyvinylidine difluoride (PVDF) having a piezoelectric property and said second piezoelectric layer (124) comprises PVDF having a piezoelectric property.

21. A composite article (120) as set forth in claim 18 wherein said electrically conductive material is further, defined carbon nanotubes.

22. A composite article (120) as set forth in claim 18 wherein said insulating layer (126) comprises a polymer.

23. A composite article as set forth in claim 22 wherein said insulating layer (126) comprises polyvinylidine difluoride (PVDF).

24. A system (132) comprising;

a first piezoelectric layer (122) having a piezoelectric property and including electrically conductive material,

a second piezoelectric (124) layer having a piezoelectric property and including electrically conductive material,

an insulating layer (126) sandwiched by said first and second piezoelectric layers, and

a control device (34) electrically connected to said first piezoelectric layer (122) and said second piezoelectric layer (124).

25. A system (132) as set forth in claim 24 wherein said control device (34) is further defined as a meter (42) for receiving an electrical signal produced by said piezoelectric layers (122, 124).